Opportunities both within and across schools for developing children’s debating skills
Name of School: Hadley Wood Primary School Contact person: Michelle Wood - headteacher@hadleywood.enfield.sch.uk
The focus of the project is: (What is your question that you are researching and who is/are your partner school (s)? Explain how you will work together and who will be the lead.
The focus of the project is to provide opportunities both within and across schools for developing children’s debating skills. The lead school is Hadley Wood Primary. There will be regular meetings of staff and children half termly. As a result of a debating format will be produced. The link schools are Oakthorpe Primary, Eversley Primary, Walkers and Southgate.
Describe how your proposed project is innovative and explain how it ensures the development of excellence?
It is innovative as children will be able to evaluate how well each group were able to put their views and arguments forward. Judgements will be made against a set of criteria. It is also another way to develop children’s speaking and listening skills and particularly for more articulate children. The project is extending the children’s experiences beyond their own school.
What is the time frame/plan of action for your project?
The project will start in September 2008 and continue onto April 2009.
There will be an initial meeting to ensure that all schools understand focus of project and Initial meeting between schools in Autumn Term 08. The most able children will be chosen to take part in the debate between schools. Organisation and choice of subject matter to be discussed for Year 5 and 6 children.
What are your processes of evidence collection and evaluation to measure impact (methodology)?
Video debates in action and quality of these debates, Log of meetings, Assessment Tracking of learners in Speaking and Listening, Children’s ability to assess their own learning, Questionnaires to children and staff, Governing body monitoring and providing quality assurance, Quality of explanations in science and maths investigations, Our children will be well prepared for secondary school and will be another aspect of our transition process.
What outcomes are you expecting – how could these be demonstrated/shared?To improve educational practice and enquiry.
Children will be more confident in leading School Council Meetings and class debates. There will be a greater emphasis on children listening to each other and being able to use the skills developed in the debating group to have a discussion with different view points being explored. Children would be able to make a positive contribution to society.
To provide opportunities and self assessment that you have been given.
To develop pupil voice and enhance assessment for learning opportunities through the judgments made on the quality of the debates.
